A convicted sex offender wanted on a stack of violent felony charges in Rutherford County did not get far in Mt. Juliet on Wednesday, after a local license plate reader pinged his car and police quickly closed in.
Officers stopped the vehicle near Lebanon Road and South Greenhill Road and took the suspect into custody without incident, according to local authorities.
According to WSMV, the Mt. Juliet Police Department identified the suspect as 38-year-old Lorenzo Sawyers of Nashville. Investigators said his Ford Fusion entered the city on Lebanon Road before officers located and stopped the vehicle near that intersection. Online registry listings compiled by OffenderRadar show Sawyers has a prior conviction for aggravated sexual battery. The department said Sawyers was arrested without incident.
WSMV reports Sawyers had been wanted in Rutherford County since May 30 on multiple charges, including felony aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault involving strangulation, aggravated burglary, and preventing a victim from calling 911. In a statement carried by WSMV, the Mt. Juliet Police Department said, "This arrest reflects the value of advanced technology, strong partnerships, and the relentless efforts of our officers to keep dangerous offenders off the streets."
How plate readers helped
Mt. Juliet has leaned on license plate reader tools such as Guardian Shield and Flock Live 911 as part of a broader push to spot wanted vehicles entering the city. As outlined by the Mt. Juliet Police Department and reported by 85% of wanted arrests, city officials say those systems have repeatedly helped officers find non resident suspects who pass through on busy corridors. The department has highlighted a string of cases where plate reader alerts kicked off quick, targeted stops.
Sawyers now faces the Rutherford County warrants, and the department said the investigation remains active. Mt. Juliet police urged anyone with information to contact their tips line as detectives follow up on leads.
